Beyoncé to finally face media over inauguration

Beyoncé performs the national anthem during the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Beyonce is expected to face the media Thursday as she previews her halftime performance at the Super Bowl football championship, but the focus will likely be on her performance at President Barack Obama‘s inauguration earlier this month.

The superstar hasn’t spoken publicly since it was alleged that she lip-synched her rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the inauguration. Since she hasn’t addressed the controversy, it’s expected the topic will be the main focus of her afternoon press conference in New Orleans.

Her critically praised performance came under scrutiny less than a day later, when a representative from the U.S. Marine Band said she wasn’t singing live and the band’s accompanying performance was taped. The group soon backed off its initial statement and said no one could tell if she was singing live or not.

The singer likely would rather concentrate on questions about her set list for Sunday and her upcoming HBO documentary, “Life Is but a Dream.”

There has been plenty of speculation about Beyonce’s Super Bowl performance, including reports there would be a Destiny’s Child reunion with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, though Williams has shot down such speculation. Some are also curious about whether her husband, Jay-Z, will join her onstage, as they often do for each other’s shows.

Beyonce has teased photos and video of herself preparing for the show, which will perhaps be the biggest audience of her career. Last year, Madonna’s halftime performance was the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance ever, with an average of 114 million viewers. It garnered more viewers than the game itself, which was the most-watched U.S. TV event in history.